Jonah-God is Concerned About Everyone

By Mary Vee
Jonah 4

From Jonah's Crinkled Journals

Photo Courtesy

Even with the shelter I had built, the sun still warmed the place to a blazing temperature where I sat. 

I had spent the day watching the city. Waiting for God to destroy it. I slept that night and woke the next morning to find a vine sprouting from the dry ground near my shelter. It had grown up and wrapped itself around the sticks I'd used during the night. Truly God had done this because even a vine wouldn't grow that fast. 

I knew it. God did care about me. Maybe He would destroy the city of Nineveh after all. 

The shade cooled my skin. I felt so much better. I kept watch on the city all day, never leaving my post. Maybe God would send down bolts of lightening from heaven, or maybe the walls would fall like Jericho's did, or maybe He would send plagues like He did for Egypt. 

I sat back, enjoying the cool shade and waited. All day I waited. That night I fell into a sleep that refreshed me. Maybe the new day would bring the end of Nineveh. I laughed to myself.

The next morning I woke and found a worm had chewed the vine, the one that grew up and covered my shelter, yesterday. My vine had withered. The one God gave me for shade. 

A scorching wind blew from the east. My shelter didn't protect me from the sweltering heat. The sun grew so hot on my head I could barely sit. I couldn't take the blazing sun any longer.

I cried out to God in my misery. "It would be better for me to die than to live." 

God spoke to me. "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"

"I do and I am angry enough to die." First the Ninevites repented, then God spared them, and now the very vine providing me shade has withered.

God said, "Jonah, you have been concerned about this vine, though you did not plant it, take care of it, or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. but Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left. They also have many cattle. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

So, God had made up His mind. 

He chose to spare Nineveh. I may as well go home.

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1. What gift did God give Jonah as he sat in his shelter?
2. What happened to the vine?
3. Why was Jonah angry?
4. God said Jonah had been concerned about the vine when he should have been concerned about _____________. 
5. How many people lived in Nineveh?
6. Did the people of Nineveh say they were sorry for bad things they had done?
7. Why didn't Jonah want Nineveh to be saved?
8. What does John 3:16 say?

This seemed to be perfect timing on God's part 

to have this story fall right at Easter time, don't you think?

Jonah-Why Did God Have to Spare The Ninevites?

By Mary Vee
Jonah 4

From the Sweaty Journals of Jonah

The king and all of the people of Nineveh repented of their evil ways. 

This might sound like something good to you, but for me it didn't. Imagine the worse bully at your school or work. They pick on you every day and threaten to one day squash you in front of everyone. That is what the Ninevites were like to those of us living in Israel. 

We were afraid of the great armies of Nineveh and wanted God to crush them.

My heart saddened. No--my heat grew red hot with anger as I witnessed every single citizen dressed in sackcloth and crying out to God for mercy and forgiveness. 

I walked to a place where I could be alone and cried out to God. "O Lord, isn't this what I said would happen when I was still at home? Didn't I say you would forgive this evil people? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew all along that you are a gracious and compassionate God. That you are slow to anger and abounding in love. And that you are a God who yields from sending calamity when people obey you." 

I sighed and closed my eyes. I couldn't bear to look at this city any more. I sat in the street and wrapped my arms around my head. "Now, O Lord, take away my life. It is better for me to die than to live."  

A tear blurred my eye. I covered my ears to stop the prayers from the people from reaching me. 

In the din filling the air, God spoke to me. "Have you any right to be angry?"

I thought I did. 

I stood. There was nothing left for me to do here. The damage had been done. God chose to save the horrid Ninevites. I walked outside the city gates and turned to the east. Maybe if I left the city walls God would change His mind and destroy the city after all. I laughed to myself.  Yes. Maybe that was what God was waiting for.

I made a simple shelter to block the hot sun and sat down in it. Now, I will wait to see what happens. God couldn't possible forgive people as evil as the Ninevites.

Come back next time to see what happens.

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1. What had the people of Nineveh done?
2. What did Jonah compare the people of Nineveh to?
3. What made Jonah's heart sad--angry?
4. What did Jonah cry out to God?
5. Jonah was so very angry. What did God say to him?
6. Where did Jonah go?
7. What did he want to do there?

Bonus question: Is it any different for God to forgive a Ninevite person from someone who is mostly good?

Jonah-The King's Court

By Mary Vee
Jonah 3

From Jonah's Crumpled Notes

Photo Courtesy

The guards pushed me forward through the crowded chamber of the king. "Milord, this man says he has a message."

I couldn't blame the king for looking at me with squinty eyes. I didn't dress fancy like the people of Nineveh. Had never owned more than two changes of clothes. I was hot and had walked seven hundred miles and smelled like I had washed in fish soap.

"What is your message? Be quick about it."

I bowed to him, respectfully. "The Almighty God has sent me to you with  His message. In forty days Nineveh will be conquered."

I didn't expect the king to believe me. In truth, I thought he would have the the guards drag me out of the city and throw me out the gates.

Instead, he rose from his throne and took off his royal robes. "Bring me sackcloth at once." His servants ran out of the room and returned moments later with sackcloth. They helped him put the scratchy cloth over his head and down over his body. He walked over to where there was a pile of dust and sat in it. 

The people in the room gasped. They whispered among themselves, "This is serious."

The king of Nineveh raised his head and said, "I am issuing this proclamation. Effectively immediately and by my decree:

"Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything. Do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."

The people fled from the room to obey the king's decree. Throughout the palace I could hear men and women crying out prayers to God. I walked back out to the city streets and was amazed. The shops had all closed. People sat on the city streets dressed in the brown sackcloth. 

Children and animals, too.  No one walked about the city as they had when I arrived.

God saw how they had changed their ways. He saw the sincerity of their hearts and how the entire city cried out. He spoke to me saying He had compassion on the people of Nineveh and would not bring about the destruction he had threatened.

Really? This mean and cruel people of Nineveh? But, I didn't want God to forgive them.

Come back next time to see what Jonah does.

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1. What message did Jonah tell the king of Nineveh?
2. What did the king do to his clothes as soon as he heard the news?
3. What declaration did the king send out to his people?
4. What did the people do?
5. What did God decide?
6. Why was Jonah upset?

Jonah-Inside the Belly of Nineveh

by Mary Vee
Jonah 3

From Jonah's Crinkled Journal

Photo Courtesy

I had crossed the Euphrates River, journeyed on to the Tigres River then separated from the caravan I'd joined several months ago. 

The short trip across the Tigres River left me only a few steps from the city walls of Nineveh. The sight was breathtaking. I'd never seen such a large city. God told me to bring a message to these people. It would take me days to walk through the city streets and tell everyone Sigh.

The city gates were still open when I arrived. I walked through with a group of merchants and stepped to the side to let them pass. The buildings rose above my head like a garden of giants. Crowds bustled across the streets. The chatter seemed too loud for me to gain anyone's attention.

Still. I didn't want to end up in another fish. Or to be tossed outside the city beaten to a pulp.

I moved between a group of people to the center of two streets. A large fountain with statues spilling water into the bowls below seemed like a logical place to stand. Three steps led the way up to the cool waters.

I climbed to the top step and scooped a handful of water to refresh my voice then turned to face the people. A few stopped and looked my way. Their eyebrows pointed down as if they were bewildered. 

"I come with a message from God. In forty days Nineveh will be conquered."

Suddenly hundreds of people stopped walking. They turned to me and looked without making a sound.

I took the opportunity to repeat what I'd said. "I have come to tell you a message from God. In forty days Nineveh will be conquered."

A man leaped to the steps near me and shouted, "I proclaim that we fast and put on sackcloth. Hurry, everyone. Maybe we can change God's mind."

Several men from the crowd told me to follow them. They grabbed my hands and pulled me through the city street to the palace. The men shouted, "Let us through. We must see the king. Urgent business."

They took me to the king's chamber and bowed before the king. "My lord. This man has a message you must hear."

The king gave us permission to step forward. "What is this message you bring?"

I bowed before the king and answered, "I have been sent with this message from God. In forty days Nineveh will be conquered."

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1. What kind of a city is Nineveh?
2. What message did Jonah give the people?
3. What did the people do when they heard the message?
4. Where did the people take Jonah after they heard the message?
5. What do you think the king of Nineveh will do?

Jonah-The Long Journey to Nineveh

By Mary Vee
Jonah 3

Photo Courtesy

Not long after I sat on a rock near the trade route did a caravan from Egypt arrive.

"Excuse me," I said to the lead person. "May I join your group?"

Rarely would a caravan turn down such a request. They appreciated the help with the work.

"Sure. You are most welcomed. What is your name and where are you going?"

"I am Jonah and I'm traveling to Nineveh."

"But you are carrying nothing with you. What do you plan to do there?"

"I have been sent to deliver a message."

The leader nodded. "Very well. Join in where you can."

The caravan had goods they planned to sell loaded on camels and mules. From a glance, I'd say they had about two hundred animals carrying the merchandise. There were at least forty armed men riding or walking alongside to protect the animals from bandits.

I stepped in with the group and helped where I could, including taking my turn to keep watch at night. They offered me food in exchange for my work. 

The first part of our journey took a lot of work. The trail wove up the mountains in Damascus. The caravan stopped in the villages to sell their wares. The next part of the journey took us on steep mountain trails where we had to watch the animals closely to keep them from falling.

The trail led us up one mountain, down the other side, then back up the next mountain. At least the trees protected us from the hot sun. Climbing down the last mountain seemed to be a relief, until we left the shade of the trees and set out into the wilderness where wild animals threatened us.

At night the cries of the wild animals made sleeping difficult for me. I never did get use to the noise.

The leader of the caravan had us rest at the last village located on the edge of the wilderness. In front of us was the the Syrian desert. We filled all our containers with fresh water and let the animals drink their fill before setting out. 

We walked one hundred and twenty miles of flat, hot sand where no one dared to live. The merchants knew how to handle the desert, though. They wore cloth over their nose and mouths to keep sand from blowing in with each breath. They rested during the hottest part of the day and rationed the water. 

I was very happy to see the banks of the Euphrates river after so many days in the desert and even happier when the leader said we would rest for a few days before finishing the journey.

I would need the rest because on the other side of the river lay the country of Assyria. The capital city was the great Nineveh. 

I really am not looking forward to this.

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1. Where did the caravan come from?
2. What did they have with them?
3. Why did the leader invite Jonah to join them?
4. What did they find along the way?
5. Why was Jonah concerned about crossing the river?

Jonah-I am Alive!

Mary Vee
Jonah 3

From Jonah's Soggy Journal

Photo Courtesy

I had cried out to the Lord and He saved me.

The sun warmed my skin as it never had before. The air smelled fresher than ever. Even the sand crusted on my face felt good. You would say that too if you had been trapped in the belly of a great fish for three days!

Just thinking about those days of darkness, stinky smells, and weird stomach noises upsets my stomach.

I pushed my way back into the water to rinse off the sand and pulled pieces of seaweed off my clothes. As the warm sea breeze dried my skin, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob spoke to me. "Go to the great city of Nineveh and tell them the message I give you."

The Almighty God already knows my opinion of the people from Nineveh. They are cruel and threaten to overtake our land. They'd turn our families into slaves, those they didn't kill. He knows I don't want to help them. 

No need saying another word. 

No need fighting Him or trying to run away. 

This time I may not survive a fish eating me.

If you haven't notice, my attitude about this is not good--and in truth I wish He would ask someone else. But since He didn't, I searched the beach for a branch, trimmed the twigs away, and began my walk.

My bag remained at the bottom of the sea. I had no food or anything else with me. I recognized the area, though, and found I was not far from my home or the trade route which led from Egypt to--sigh--Nineveh. 

No one in their right mind, not even a well know prophet such as myself who has worked with king Jeroboam II of Israel would dare travel the trade route alone. There are too many bandits along the way. My plan is to find a caravan, join them, and journey the fifteen miles a day. The trip should take about two months to complete.

I set out toward the trade route and waited for the next caravan. Wishing, in a way, one would never come. But I knew better. God really wants me to give this message to Nineveh.

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1. Where did Jonah land?
2. What did God ask Jonah to do?
3. What did Jonah have with him for the trip?
4. How did Jonah plan to get to Nineveh?
5. Why didn't Jonah want to go?

Jonah-Flying Out of the Fish's Mouth

Mary Vee
Jonah 2

From the Jonah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

I woke. Still in the great fish. Nothing had changed. I didn't want to be here any longer and needed God's help to get me out. From my calculations I've been here for three days.

I raised my hands and prayed to God:

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
    and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
    and Lord, you heard me!
 You threw me into the ocean depths,
    and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
    I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
 Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
    Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

 “I sank beneath the waves,
    and the waters closed over me.
    Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
    I was imprisoned in the earth,
    whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God,
    snatched me from the jaws of death!
 As my life was slipping away,
    I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out to you
    in your holy Temple.
 Those who worship false gods
    turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
    and I will fulfill all my vows.
    For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

The fish shook. 

Whatever I sat on moved, first back then forward, then back and like a bird I flew out of the fish's mouth into the air. I flung my arms trying to balance myself before crashing. I landed on the soft sands of the beach. Warm. Bright.

The sun tickled my eyes to open. I took a deep breath and smelled fresh air. God had rescued me.

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1. What did Jonah finally decide to do?
2. Who was the only one who could help him?
3. Tell some things Jonah said in his prayer?
4. What do you think it felt like to be spat out of the fish?

Jonah-Inside the Whale

By Mary Vee
Jonah 2

From Jonah's Smelly Journal

I awoke in the most unusual place.

It was dark and there were weird gurgling noises. I didn't recognize anything. Was I dead?

I reached out and touched something gooey. Whatever I sat on moved with me like a squishy pillow.

Air flowed, moving in and out like something around me was breathing. Could it be that I was inside the great fish?

"Hello? Is anyone here?" My voice didn't travel far. The sounds muted shortly after I said them. 

How did I get here? I sat up and tried to remember what happened to me. Oh, yes. I bought a ticket and boarded a ship for Tarshish. Shortly after leaving dock a great storm stirred the sea and threatened the ship. The crew threw me overboard to save their lives. I sank deep into the water until a great fish swallowed me.

I tried to remember being swallowed then decided I might be better off not knowing. 

How long had I been in the great fish? 

My stomach growled. I had no way to find food and wondered which would be worse, drowning or starving.

I thought about what God asked me to do a few days ago. I still didn't want to go to Ninevah, and definitely didn't want to tell the Ninevites how they could be spared from a great punishment. They were a cruel people and deserved the punishment. 

Still, if God asked me to do something, I really ought to do it. Who was I to tell God what to do? 

I was sorry for saying no to God and didn't know how to undo my bad choice. There didn't seem any way to survive now.

I leaned back and fell asleep.

When I awoke I hoped being swallowed by the great fish had been nothing more than a crazy dream. I opened my eyes and couldn't see very much. The darkness seemed a blessing. I didn't want to see what the inside of a fish looked like, too many half eaten creatures and guts. Ew.

I had nothing to do except think. Scriptures and the message God gave to me mostly filled my mind. After a while I decided I would ask God to help me get out of the fish. He is the Almighty. The one who created both the fish and me. Surely He could get me out.

I took one more nap to give my body time to heal from the injuries I received on the ship. Then I'd ask Him for help.

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1. What do you imagine the place looked like where Jonah slept?
2. What had happened to Jonah?
3. What was Jonah sorry about?
4. What did Jonah decide to do?

Jonah-I Can't Swim!

By Mary Vee
Jonah 1,2

From the Very Drenched Journal Notes of Jonah

Photo Courtesy

The captain pleaded with me to answer his question, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?'

This was all my fault. Had I listened to God in the first place, the ship and the crew would not have had this trouble. I'm not suppose to be on the ship. The only answer would be for me to leave the ship. I sighed.  "You need to pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then it will become calm. I know it's my fault that this great storm has come upon you."

The captain shook his head. "We can't throw you off! You're a paying passenger."  He turned to his crew. "Man the oars and row toward land."

The crew scrambled to their positions and pulled the oars with all their strength. The captain called a beat to keep them rowing but the wind fought them. The harder they rowed the farther from land the sea pushed them. They worked the oars past the midday hour. 

I couldn't believe that the waves could grow taller and lift the boat, but they did. If the captain didn't throw me overboard soon the entire crew and ship would perish. He wouldn't listen to my pleas, though.

Finally, the captain looked up at the skies and saw no relief from the storm. The crew cried out, "Lord please don't let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man. For you. O Lord, have done as you pleased."

The captain and crew said they were sorry. Their eyes saddened and their eyebrows lowered. Two of the crew picked me up and tossed me as far as they could away from the boat, preventing me from bouncing against the hull. 

The instant I hit the water the waves calmed and I sank deeper into the dark waters. 

I didn't know how to swim. My clothing weighed me down, deeper into the water. I didn't know how long I would be able to hold my breath. I'd never been under water before. I opened my eyes and watched the fish swim around me. 

But soon the air left my lungs and I knew I would drown. 

My head pounded and my chest hurt. I pushed with my arms but didn't go very far. Suddenly a large fish, bigger than the waves that hit the ship, swam toward me. This was my end. Would it hurt to be eaten by a fish?

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1. What did the captain want to know?
2. When Jonah answered him, did the captain do as Jonah said?
3. What did the captain order his crew to do?
4. After a while the captain gave up. The crew said what to God?
5. What did the crew do to Jonah?
6. Why didn't they want to do this?
7. What happened when Jonah hit the water?
8. Why did Jonah sink?
9. What did Jonah see at the end?

Jonah-The Terrifying Storm

By Mary Vee
Jonah 1

From the Wet Journals of Jonah

The captain of the ship dragged me from my cabin to the deck and ordered me to cry out to my God to save the ship. 

I could barely hear him over the blistering wind. Waves towered above my head and slapped the deck with a great force. The masts groaned, moving side to side, and threatened to snap in two at any moment. 

Only a storm of great doom could create such fear in the hearts of an experienced crew. The men searched the ship for more cargo to toss over the side to lighten the ship. A few were sent up the ratlines to pull in the sails. These were the ones who suffered the greatest risk to their lives. If the mast snapped while they were aloft, they would fall into the sea and be sucked to the depths.

The work never ceased. The wind loosened ropes and unfurled sails. 

The crew banded together and cried out to their own gods, pleading for mercy. They fell to their knees and continued to shout to their gods.

Nothing helped.

The rain and the sea took no break, but continued to slap the ship and us. I grabbed onto the rail for balance, but soon found myself thrown against the other side and nearly cast overboard. My arms ached from banging against the rail and my clothes were completely soaked.

One of the crew pulled me to a somewhat safe place where the other crew had gathered in a circle. "Take a place over here." One brought out lots and held them in his hand. "We'll see who the cause of this trouble is." 

The lots were tossed on the deck and pointed to me. 

"Tell us," one crew member said to me, "who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"

I didn't waste any time answering him. The man was scared and ready to act. "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."

Every man's eyes widened with more fear. "What have you done?"

I'd already told them I'd run away from the Lord, but hadn't told them why.

A wave, larger than we had seen so far towered above the ship. The men looked up and cried out in fear. " What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"

I couldn't answer right then, the wind pushed us against each other, and the ship tipped. 

You'll have to come back next time to see what happens. Hold on to the rail until then!

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1. What scared the crew?
2. What did the captain order Jonah to do?
3. What are some things the crew did to save the ship.
4. What did the crew call Jonah over to do with them.
5. Who did the lots fall on?
6. What did the sailors ask Jonah to tell them?
7. Jonah had already told them he had run away from ___________

King Jeroboam II and Jonah

By Mary Vee
II Kings 13, Jonah

From Jonah's Journal

Israel has a new king, his name is Jeroboam II. Amaziah is still king of Judah. Neither king has guided their people to worship the Lord. 

To protect my own life, I have kept somewhat silent about the sins of these kings.

One day, as I went about my work, I heard a message from the Lord. He said, "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

Now the city of Nineveh is not only great, but they have a mighty army. The people of Israel and Judah have not wanted anything to do with them. We have actually feared the day they will try to conquer us. I don't like them and can't see why God would want to help them.

Nineveh is to the east. I packed a few things and hurried to the Great Sea. By going west, I hoped to get out of this task God had given me. I chose to go to Tarshish and hide. To get there I needed passage on a ship. I kept walking west to the city of Joppa where I found the shipyard. At the ticked office I asked when the next ship would sail for Tarshish. 

"There is one leaving shortly." The man said.

"Good." I paid him the money for a ticket, grab my belongings and boarded the boat. The captain and crew greeted me. I went straight to my cabin below deck, lit the lantern, and locked the door. The room was small and smelled, but I didn't care. Anything seemed better than going to Nineveh.

The bed had a thin mat and felt like a board. I laid down and closed my eyes, hoping to pass the time, but couldn't sleep. Soon the ship rocked back and forth. Finally we'd set sail. 

The rocking movement increased. It seemed a storm must be pushing the boat around. I laid down on my bed again, this time I fell asleep. A sweet, deep sleep where no one would bother me. 

Suddenly, the door to my cabin banged open. I opened my eyes in time to see the captain rushing toward me. His face was red with anger and his clothes soaking wet.

"How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god!" He grabbed me and forced me to stand. "Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."

He brought me on deck with the others. The wind and rain nearly threw me over the edge. The crew ran about the deck tossing things over the side and securing the ropes. 

Huge waves splashed over the sides onto the deck, soaking my clothes. 

I knew right away what caused the storm.

Jonah will tell what happens next time.

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1. Who is the new king of Isreal? Is he a good king?
2. What job did Jonah have?
3. What did God ask Jonah to do?
4. Why didn't Jonah want to do the job?
5. Why did Jonah want to go to Tarshis?
6. What did he need in Joppa?
7. What happened to the ship?